Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Janice is a name of Hebrew origin meaning 'God is gracious.' It evolved from Yochanan to its modern form through several historical stages. The name is associated with traits of grace and kindness. It does not have a biblical background. Janice became widely popular in the 20th century and is now viewed as a classic name with a nostalgic charm.
Etymology & Cultural Background
Pronunciation
/ˈdʒænɪs/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
The name Janice is derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan, which means 'God is gracious.' It became popular in English-speaking countries through its association with the name Jane.
Meaning
God is gracious
Language Evolution
Yochanan, Johanna, Joan, Jane, Janice
Historical Usage
Janice gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s, becoming a common name for girls.
Variants & Derivatives
Jane, Jan, Janie
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Janice is perceived as a classic name, though it has declined in use since its peak mid-century. It is often associated with a sense of tradition and nostalgia.
Famous People
Janice Joplin, Janice Dickinson, Janice Ian
📊 Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Name Visualizations
Key Insights
Popularity Trend
Highly Popular name with 15,982 peak births in 1951
Geographic Spread
Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in North Dakota
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 12 different American generations with varying popularity
Historical Birth Statistics
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History
Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 6320th of 7545 | 12 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1390th of 6773 | 438 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1486th of 7552 | 527 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 3394th of 10718 | 146 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 9851st of 16616 | 34 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 258th of 9107 | 11,913 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 39th of 9204 | 113,428 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 26th of 12526 | 231,082 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 146th of 19264 | 34,402 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 412th of 27321 | 9,522 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 910th of 35406 | 4,347 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 1608th of 30306 | 1,626 |
Regional Popularity by Generation - Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
70.70% 1093rd/1546 |
- | - |
73.11% 1131st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - |
70.66% 2016th/2853 |
60.61% 1682nd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity by Generation - Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
13.14% 186th/1416 |
14.14% 195th/1379 |
13.95% 330th/2366 |
16.46% 188th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
1.94% 30th/1546 |
3.66% 57th/1556 |
2.21% 52nd/2353 |
2.00% 31st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
1.26% 28th/2227 |
1.48% 36th/2430 |
0.88% 25th/2853 |
1.19% 33rd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
5.65% 166th/2937 |
3.88% 135th/3483 |
3.50% 123rd/3518 |
4.72% 191st/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
13.27% 489th/3685 |
7.91% 354th/4475 |
7.57% 393rd/5194 |
7.06% 446th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
26.74% 1225th/4582 |
13.17% 680th/5164 |
14.22% 1040th/7313 |
10.67% 796th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
48.42% 1929th/3984 |
29.55% 1326th/4487 |
26.52% 1809th/6822 |
20.16% 1265th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity
This map shows relative popularity across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.
Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends in the United States
This name shows strongest popularity in North Dakota across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Silent Generation generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, usage has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, falling for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, popularity patterns vary significantly: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 6320th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1390th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1486th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3394th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 9851st out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 258th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 39th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 26th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 146th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 412th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 910th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1608th out of 30306 names. Explore how this name has evolved through American history with comprehensive regional and generational analysis.